Business & Financial
Florida House Bill Would Not Permit Major Casinos in South Florida
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — (Associated Press) - The Florida House is saying no to bringing major casinos to South Florida.
Japan Finance Minister Gathering Facts on Bitcoin Exchange Mt.Gox
(Reuters) - Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Tuesday that the government is still trying to figure out what has led to the collapse of the Tokyo-based bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox and is not sure whether crime is involved.
"We still have not had a clear grasp of the situation," Aso said in response to a reporter's question after a cabinet meeting. "(We) don't know if it was a crime or just a bankruptcy."
Bitcoin Businesses Subpoenaed by US Attorney Preet Bharara
(Reuters) - Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara has sent subpoenas to Mt. Gox, other bitcoin exchanges, and businesses that deal in bitcoin to seek information on how they handled recent cyber attacks, a source familiar with the probe said on Wednesday.
In the attacks - known as distributed denial of service attacks - hackers overwhelmed bitcoin exchanges by sending thousands of phantom transactions. At least three exchanges were forced to halt withdrawals of bitcoins on February 7, including Mt. Gox, which was the largest at the time.
Paddy Power Defends Taking Bets on Oscar Pistorius Murder Trial: Angry Tweets
Controversial Irish bookmaker Paddy Power has defended its decision to offer betting on the outcome of Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial.
Pistorius, a paraplegic runner, claims he shot into a locked bathroom believing an intruder had entered the residence he shared with Steenkamp. Instead he fatally wounded his girlfriend.
Yahoo Sports Teams Up With Quicken Loans for ‘Billion Dollar Bracket Challenge’
Detroit-based Quicken Loans, the nation's third largest mortgage lender, today announced it has teamed with Yahoo Sports as the technology provider for the now named 'Quicken Loans Billion Dollar Bracket Challenge with Yahoo Sports' contest. Yahoo Sports designed the online bracket experience and will host the exclusive destination (www.quickenloansbracket.com) for the challenge as college basketball fans take their shot at becoming America's next billionaire.
What is a Good Pay Per Head for College Basketball?
With March Madness just around the corner, you might be asking yourself What is a good Pay Per Head business to handle your players for College Basketball?
Real Bookies has just joined the Gambling911.com family and we are thrilled to have them on board.
So what can Real Bookie offer your players?
Here is just a sampling:
Hard Rock Could Purchase Revel Casino in New Jersey
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Associated Press) - The Seminole Indian tribe of Florida, through its Hard Rock franchise, has indicated a renewed interest in the Atlantic City casino market.
Hard Rock, the global casino and entertainment company, asked New Jersey gambling regulators for a ruling on whether the tribe would need to qualify for a casino license should the company acquire or build one here.
Hard Rock has been rumored for months to be interested in the struggling Revel Casino Hotel, whose owners are considering selling it.
Macau Revenue Surges 40 Percent in February
(Reuters) - China's gambling hub Macau raked in 38 billion patacas ($4.8 billion) in gaming revenues in February, boosted by strong spending from wealthy punters during and after a week-long national holiday.
Gambling revenue growth in Macau, a special administrative region that is the only place in China where casinos are allowed, was up 40 percent in February, far ahead of analyst estimates of between 29-35 percent.
Neteller Returns to the US: Shares Surge Nearly 3 Percent
Online payment solutions company Neteller announced Monday that it will be relaunching services in the US.
The company was forced to flee the US market in January 2007 after two of its founders were charged with violating anti-gambling laws. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was passed just two months prior to the highly publicized arrests, with Gambling911.com breaking that news story.
Sands Employees Angry at Adelson Over Breach: ‘He Should Just Shut Up’
Employees of the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, Pa., are outraged and angry that their personal information has been put at risk apparently because of their boss's outspoken political statements.
Mt.Gox Bitcoin Exchange Files for Bankruptcy
(Reuters) - Mt. Gox, once the world's biggest bitcoin exchange, filed for bankruptcy protection in Japan on Friday, saying it may have lost nearly half a billion dollars worth of the virtual coins due to hacking into its faulty computer system.
The collapse caps a tumultuous few weeks in which the company has remained virtually silent after halting trades of the crypto-currency, shaking the nascent but burgeoning bitcoin community.
Nevada Gaming Revenues Down in January
CARSON CITY, Nev. (Associated Press) — State officials say Nevada gambling revenue dropped almost three percent in January compared with the same time a year ago.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board released a report Friday on the $884 million in revenue that rolled in last month.
Las Vegas Strip winnings of just under half a billion dollars were down a little more than 1 percent last month. Downtown Las Vegas winnings of $43 million were down 3 percent.
Sands Casino Bethlehem CEO Resigns Following Hacking
The CEO of Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem has resigned following a hacking that took down all Sands Las Vegas websites for nearly a week.
Robert DeSalvio, the President and CEO of the Sands establishment, is stepping down. It was revealed last week that the hacking had gone through Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. DeSalvio has insisted that his decision is unrelated to the hacking.
Infiniti Poker, The Bitcoin Room That Never Was, Vanishes
The wait is over…..really over.
NJ Authorizes Multi-State Slot Jackpots That Will Boost Winnings
ATLANTIC CITY (Associated Press) — New Jersey casino regulators approved a multi-state slots system designed to result in larger jackpots.
The state’s Division of Gaming Enforcement said Wednesday it has authorized a wide-area progressive slots jackpot system involving New Jersey and other jurisdictions, although other participants were not immediately announced.
The goal is to create larger jackpots that will be more appealing to players — some of whom will come to Atlantic City’s casinos for a crack at them.
William Hill Warns That Greyhounds and Horses May Need to be Slaughtered
Ralph Topping, the boss of William Hill, Britain’s largest bookmaker, warned that a UK curb on gambling will likely result in the mass killing of defenseless greyhounds and horses.
Dire Warning for Ladbrokes Head: ‘Better Capitalize on World Cup or Else’
Embattled Ladbrokes CEO Richard Glynn faces the axe this coming August if he can’t turn things around at the UK’s second largest bookmaking firm.
Bwin.Party Execs Get 550 Per Cent of Annual Salary: Founders Decline Offer
Bwin.Party shareholders on Monday voted a new pay scheme whereby top executives would receive up to 550 per cent of their annual salary. 70 per cent of voters approved the new deal, however, another 30 per cent objected.
Of those 30 per cent, it was telling that founders Ruth Parasol and her former husband Russell DeLeon were among them.
Bitcoin Shocker as One-Time Largest Exchange Closes Its Doors
In yet another blow to the anonymous digital currency bitcoin, the largest exchange has shut its doors.
Mt.Gox posted an update to its site Tuesday saying a "decision was taken to close all transactions for the time being," citing "recent news reports and the potential repercussions on MtGox's operations.
First Multi-State Online Poker Deal Set to Begin Today in US
The first interstate compact between two US states combining their respective player pools was set to begin Tuesday February 25, 2014.
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa Has $2.8 Million Winner
TAMPA, Fla. – A Jackpot Empire slot machine at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa lived up to its name early Sunday morning when one lucky player from Riverview, Fla. (who chose to remain anonymous) claimed a whopping $2.8 million jackpot.
The Bally’s manufactured penny slot machine, located by the Jubao Palace, produced the second largest jackpot ever won at the property.
The high-water jackpot mark at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa was previously set on June 29, 2012 -- $3.6 million.
Canbet Players Owed At Least Half a Million GBP: Screwed Customers Revolt
SBR Forum, a popular sports betting social media outlet, has recorded a total of 255 customers owed in excess of 500,000 GBP by insolvent Canbet.com, one of the first online sportsbooks to burst onto the scene back in the late 1990’s.
Full Tilt Poker Payments to be Made Friday: Players Have Waited Nearly 3 Years
After a nearly three year waiting period, US customers are finally about to see millions of dollars paid back from their time playing at Full Tilt Poker.
A claims administrator appointed by the US Government approved refunding of $82 million to some 30,000 players last month.
Adelson and Las Vegas Sands Corp to Spend ‘Billions’ on Japan Casino
* CEO Adelson said would spend $10 bln but rather invest $7 bln
* Adelson "wouldn't be happy" with equity partners, but not ruling out possibility
* CLSA estimates Japan gaming market could reach $40 bln a year
TOKYO - (Reuters) - Las Vegas Sands Corp Chief Executive Sheldon Adelson said on Monday his company was willing to spend "whatever it takes" to set up a casino project in Japan, one of the largest untapped gaming markets in the world.
Casinos More Likely to Outsource Security to Private Companies
LAS VEGAS (Associated Press) — When Springfield, Mass. needed to choose who would build its first casino, the city hired an outside adviser to help with the process.
The consulting firm Shefsky & Froelich recommended that the deal go to MGM Resorts International. At the same time, the consulting firm was also working as a registered lobbyist in Illinois for MGM Resorts.
Federal Bill Outlawing All Online Gambling Except Poker to be Introduced in March
U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-Nevada) said he anticipates new federal legislation banning all forms of online gambling except poker to be introduced in the coming months. Such a measure would ban Internet sports betting and online casinos, the later of which are currently permitted in the state of New Jersey.
Heller and others in Congress have attempted to pass similar legislation in recent years without any success.
North vs. South in New Jersey Gambling Expansion Debate
North New Jersey lawmakers want a casino in the Meadowlands, just a minutes drive away from Manhattan (barring rush hour). South Jersey lawmakers want gambling to be inclusive to Atlantic City.
Playtech to Pay Special Dividend as Profits Rise
(Reuters) - Gaming software developer Playtech (PTEC.L) said it would pay shareholders a special dividend of 100 million pounds ($167 million) as it posted a rise in full-year profit for 2013.
Playtech, which develops software for betting firms such as Paddy Power and Betfair, said on Thursday 2013 adjusted core earnings grew 17 percent to 159.4 million euros excluding the share of profits received from William Hill Online after it sold its stake in the venture last March.
Full Tilt Poker Defendant Ira Rubin ‘Faulty’ Indictment Claim Denied by Judge
A U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit judge on Wednesday rejected Ira Rubin's claim that his indictment was faulty because the conduct he was charged with was not a crime under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA).
Sands Bethlehem was Main Target of Last Week’s Hacking
LAS VEGAS - (Associated Press) -- Casino giant Las Vegas Sands Corp. said Tuesday that hacking into their websites and internal systems last week went deeper than the company had previously known.
All of the Las Vegas-based company's sites were down for six days after hackers posted images apparently condemning comments CEO Sheldon Adelson made about using nuclear weapons on Iran.
Sands said hackers crashed its email system and stole employees' Social Security numbers.
